How many computers can be activated with one copy of XP

[Guest]

How many comuters can I activate one copy of Windows XP on? I had heard it
was one desktop machine, and one laptop. However, I've recently heard that it
can be activated on 2 desktop machines. Is this true? Also, do the same
rules apply to Office 2003?
Thanks,
Ken

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP}]

Windows XP can only be installed and activated on one (1) computer.
A retail version of Microsoft Office 2004 can be install and activated on
one (1) desktop computer and one (1) notebook computer.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User

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:

How many comuters can I activate one copy of Windows XP on? I had heard it
was one desktop machine, and one laptop. However, I've recently heard that
it
can be activated on 2 desktop machines. Is this true? Also, do the same
rules apply to Office 2003?
Thanks,
Ken

 

[Rock]

How many comuters can I activate one copy of Windows XP on? I had heard it
was one desktop machine, and one laptop. However, I've recently heard that
it
can be activated on 2 desktop machines. Is this true? Also, do the same
rules apply to Office 2003?

It's always been the same, one computer per license. It was certain Office
versions that allowed installation on a desktop and laptop ( and I think
that has been increased to 3 now for some versions). In XP it's one
installation per license.

Read the EULA to know for sure.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

How many comuters can I activate one copy of Windows XP on?

One.


I had
heard it was one desktop machine, and one laptop.

Sorry, you heard wrong.

However, I've
recently heard that it can be activated on 2 desktop machines. Is
this true?

No. You heard wrong there too

The rule is quite clear. It's one copy (or one license) for each computer.

There's nothing new here. This is exactly the same rule that's been in
effect on every version of Windows starting with Windows 3.1. The only thing
new with XP is that there's now an enforcement mechanism.

If yours is a retail version, not an OEM one, you can buy extra licenses
(see http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/addlic.asp). But it's
not generally a good deal. The problem is that Microsoft sells additional
licenses at only a small savings over the list price. You're almost
certainly better off just buying a complete second copy from a discount
source.

Also, do the same rules apply to Office 2003?

No. For that it's one desktop and one laptop.

 

[Ron Martell]

No. For that it's one desktop and one laptop.

At one time that also had a proviso that the same person had to be the
exclusive user of both computers.

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Bruce Chambers]

How many comuters can I activate one copy of Windows XP on?

One.

You need to purchase a separate WinXP license for each computer on
which you install it. (As long as you have multiple identical licenses,
it doesn't matter if you use the same CD for the installations, as long
as you use a different license each time.)

Just as it has *always* been with *all* Microsoft operating
systems, it's necessary (to be in compliance with both the EULA and U.S.
copyright law http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/117.html), if not
technically) to purchase one WinXP license for each computer on which it
is installed. (Consult an attorney versed in copyright law to determine
final applicability in your locale.) The only way in which WinXP
licensing differs from that of earlier versions of Windows is that
Microsoft has finally added a copy protection and anti-theft mechanism,
Product Activation, to prevent (or at least make more difficult)
multiple installations using a single license.

I had heard it
was one desktop machine, and one laptop.

Then someone was lying to you. Retail licenses of Office (and many
other Microsoft products) permit the installation of the software onto
one desktop computer and one portable computer, provided that the
license owner is the primary user of both machines, but this has never
been the case with Microsoft operating systems.

However, I've recently heard that it
can be activated on 2 desktop machines. Is this true?

No. You really need to stop listening to whomever has been feeding you
this nonsense.

Also, do the same
rules apply to Office 2003?
Thanks,
Ken

possibly, but it's a different product, and might have a different
license. Read the EULA.


--

Bruce Chambers

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